Cellular egg carton



April 1944- SCHWARTZBERG 2,346,400

- CELLULAR EGG CARTON Filed Aug. 8, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 e rig L TUP M0 Patented Apr. 11, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,346,400 CELLULAREGG CARTON Louis Schwartzberg, Chicago, Ili.

Application August 8, 1942, Serial No. 454,173

4 Claims. (01. 229-28) My present invention relates to improvements incellular egg cartons;

It is now generally and definitely known that, with the various designsof egg cartons available, it is necessary to employ material for theirconstruction' of not less than a certain thickness in order to securerequisite protection for the eggs. The material generally employed,known to the trade as straw-board, is sold for so much per ton, and aton of such material of a definite thickness will permit of making ofonly so many cartons of the same design. A change of thickness ofseveral points, as the gauge or measure of thickness is usually referredto; results in securing several thousand more vor less cartons from aton of material. I

It is the object of my present inventionto provide a cellular eggcarton'which may bemade of a thickness of material heretofore regarded as toothin to afford necessary strength, and which will, nevertheless, resultin the provision of a carton affording to the eggs reater protectionagainst breakage than cartons hitherto formed from much thickermaterial. I am able to attain this object by a clear perception that, inthe absence of an accident which would render any carton inefiective',the only places where protection is effective with eggs-are the endsupon which they rest and their bellies; The protecting and cushioningeffect of a plurality of contiguous layers' at the lower ends andbellies of the eggs is enhanced by slitting through the folded edges atintervals between locations for transverse and longitudinal partsforming inner cell Walls,

I attain my object by means of the structure illustrated in theaccompanying drawings in which- Fig. 1 is a developmentor blank, beforefolding, of which my carton, with the exception of the centrallongitudinal partition, is formed} Fig. 2 is a transverse sectionshowing the relations of the longitudinal portions of the devel opmentor blank after the same has been folded;

Fig. 3' is a longitudinal,- Vertical section showing the disposition ofthe transverse partitions after folding; and

Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the central longitudinal partition.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout therespective views.

In order to secure a clear understanding of the relation of the parts orareas of the development or blank totheir location and the functionsthey perform in the folded carton, which.

is vital in producing the present structure; particular reference shouldbe made to Figs. 1' and 2. The area designated 5 at one end of thedevelopment or blank, which is cut to provide the laterally extendingtongues or tangs 6', comprises an attaching flap for releasably securingin.place the cover of the carton. Greased to extend at substantiallyright angles thereto is the area 1 providing the cover of the carton.Adjacent to the cover 1 and creased at the juncture therewith so as topermit the cover to hinge, is the back it. Adj'acentthereto and foldedto extend at right angles therewith is the bottom '9. Arising from thebottom 9 is the front It and this is of slightly less height than theback 8. Folded to extend closely adjacent to and parallel with the upperportion of the front H3 is a strip H which serves to locate the lowerfalse bottom 12 a desired; distance below the top edge of the front l0.Upwards from the opposite edge of the lower false bottom layer I2extends a strip f 3 which is the same in height as the strip I l andserves to locate the carton top M, level with the top edge of the frontIt]. From the top 14 are provided" the cross or transverse partitions,designated from 15 to 2| respectively, for forming the ends of thecarton, and pairs of egg cells as hereinafter described. A strip 22 isconnected to, and extends downwards from, the front margin of the top M.This strip, as shown in Figure 2, is positioned opposite the strip II. Asecond false bottom 23 is connected to, and projects rearwards from, thebottom marginof the strip 22 and overlies, and is the same in size as,the false bottom l2.

The cross or transverse partitions, E5 to 21 inclusive, connect onlywith the remainder of the top M by means of the triangular hingeportions 24, and it will be noted that these hinge portions are locatedso that the line upon which the hinging occurs requiresthe partitions tobe foldedup'on themselves and doubles the layers in the walls of thecross or transverse partitions to a point below the bellies of the eggs.Slots 25 extending across the hinging lines in the cross or transversepartitions, are provided for permitting the entry of and locatin thelongitudinal partition member 26.

Slits 21 are made on both sides of the cross slots 25 in the fold linesof the cross or transverse partitions 5 to 2| inclusive and at intervalson the fold line between the front "I and the strip 1 I, as such slitshave been found to add substantially to the cushioning effect upon theeggs of plural cell walls.

The two layers of the material at the back of the cell portion of thecarton and also the opposite three layers of material at the front ofthe carton may be secured together by adhesive or any other desired way,but it is suggested that the securing be only done at intervals as thesewalls or layers are more than ordinarily strong and the securing of themtogether continuously impairs their cushioning effect upon the eggs.

The slot 28 in the lower edge at the left end of the centrallongitudinal partition 26 is sufficiently deep to accommodate the leftend cross partition l5 of the carbon, but the similar? slots 2i! areshorter so that the central longitudinal partition 26 enters the slotsin cross partitions it to 2| inclusive.

is developed into lateral tongues or tangs 3i! which enter the apertures3| provided centrally of the false bottoms l2 and 23; and serveasadditional holding and supporting means for the false bottoms. Thecentrallongitudinal partition 25, supported as it is through engagementat frequent intervals with the cross partitions IE to 2t inclusive,extends from the inner surface of the bottom 9 to the inner face of thecover I, and affords in itself sufiicient strength to support whatadditional weight might, from time to time, be placed on the carton.

I have also shown two rows of Roman key slots 32 inlthe false bottoms I2and 23 which may be employed, if desired, further to increase thecushioning effect of, the support for the eggs, but whicharehardlynecessary in view of the forma-' tionof the double thickness ofthe bottom structure.

It will now be seen that I have provided a cellular egg carton in whichthe cellular portion of the structure is provided witha double layerback portion, 'a triple layer front portion and a double layer falsebottom for supportingthe eggs, which affords greater strength andcushioning effect than cartons heretofore made from much thickermaterial; Special advantages accrue from thetriple layer front portionas it is at this point that most manipulation occurs in engaging anddisengaging the'tongu'es or tangs ii'with and from the triangular hingeportions 24. It will also be observed that there is substantially nowaste of material in the formation of the development or blank.

Having described my invention, what I claim as back, a front connectedto, and extending up-' wards from, the front margin of the bottom anddisposed in parallel relation with the back, a first strip of lessheight than the front connected to,-

and extending downwards from the top margin of the front and fittingagainst the inner surface of the upper portion of said front, afirst'false bottom of substantially the same size as the bottomconnected to, and extending rearwards from the bottom margin of saidfirst strip and disposed above and in parallel relation with the bottom,a-

second strip of substantially the same height as the first stripconnected to, andextending upwards from, the rear margin of the firstfalse bottom and fitting against the inner surface of the.

The lower portion of the central longitudinal partition, between theslots 28 and 29,;

upper portion of the back, a top of substantially the same size as thefirst false bottom connected to, and extending forwards from the topmargin of the second strip and disposed above and in parallel relationwith said first false bottom, a third strip of substantially the sameheight as the first strip, connected to, and extending downwards from,the front margin of the top and fitting against the inner surface ofsaid first strip, and a second false bottom of substantially the sarnesize as the first false bottom connected to, and extending rearwardsfrom, the bottom margin of the third strip and directly overlying saidfirst false bottom, said top being provided with a longitudinal seriesof three-sided slits in order to form transverse partitions and havingthe partitions bent-downwards to form cells therebetween for. eggs.

2'. 'An egg carton comprising an elongated blank'of thin straw boardfolded transversely on spaced apart parallel lines to provide a coverwith a depending attaching, flap along its front margin, a backconnected to, and depending from, the rear margin of the cover, a bottomconnected to, and extending forwards from, the bottom margin of the backand disposed at right angles to said back, a front connected to, andextending upwards from, the front margin of the bottom and disposed inparallel relation with the back, a first strip of less height than thefront connected to, and extending downwards from the top margin of thefront and fitting against the inner surface of the upper portion of saidfront, a first false bottom of substantially the same size as the bottomconnected to, and extending rearwards from the bottom margin ofsaidfirst strip and disposed above and in parallel relation with the bottom,a second strip of, substantially the same height as the first stripconnected to, and extending upwards from, the rear margin of the firstfalse bottom and fitting against the inner surface of the upper portionof the back, a top of substantially the same size as the first falsebottom connected to, and extending forwards from the top margin of thesecond strip and disposed above and in parallel relation with said firstfalse bottom, a third strip of substantially the same height as thefirst strip, connected to, and extending downwards from, the frontmargin of the top and fitting against the inner surface of said firststrip, and a second false bot-. tom of substantially the same size asthe first false bottom connected to, and extending rear-. wards from,the bottom margin of the third strip and directly overlying said firstfalse bottom, said top being provided with a longitudinal series ofthree-sided slits in order to form transverse partitions and having thepartitions bent downwards to form therebetween cells for eggs, saidfirst and second false bottoms having apertures therein disposed mid-waybetween the front and rear margins thereof and between the partitions,and a longitudinal partition disposed mid-way be tween, and in parallelrelation with, the back and front, provided with downwardly facingnotches for accommodating the cross partitions, and having the portionsthereof between the notches extending through and interlocked with theaperture and resting on the bottom.

3. An egg carton comprising an elongated blank of thin straw boardfolded transversely on spaced apart parallel lines to provide a coverwith a depending attaching fiap along its front margin, 8.

back connected to, and depending from, the rearmargin of the cover, abottom connected to, and

, bottom of substantially the same size as the bottom connected to, andextending rearwards from the bottom margin of said first strip anddisposed above and in parallel relation with the bottom, a second stripof substantially the same height as the first strip connected to, andextending upwards from, the rear margin of the first false bottom andfitting against the inner surface of the upper portion of the back, atop of substantially the same size as the first false bottom con- 3nected to, and extending forwards from the top margin of the secondstrip and disposed above and in parallel relation with said first falsebottom, a third strip of substantially the same height as the firststrip, connected to, and extending downwards from, the front margin ofthe top and fitting against the inner surface of said first strip, and asecond false bottom of substantially the same size as the first falsebottom connected to,

and extending rearwards from, the bottom margin of the third strip anddirectly overlying said first false bottom, said top being provided witha longitudinal series of pairs of transversely extending oppositelypositioned three-sided slits, having the portions thereof within theslits folded downwards to form double thickness trans verse partitions,and embodying transverse slits in the partitions fold lines.

4. An egg carton comprising an elongated blank of thin straw boardfolded transversely on spaced apart parallel lines to provide a coverwith a depending attaching flap along its front margin, a back connectedto, and depending from, the rear margin of the cover, a bottom connectedto, and extending forwards from, the bottom margin of the back anddisposed at right angles to said back, a front of less height than theback connected to, and extending upwards from, the

front margin of the bottom and disposed in parallel relation with theback, a first strip of less height than the front connected to, andextending downwards from the top margin of the front and fitting againstthe inner surface of the upper portion of said front, a first falsebottom of sub.- stantially the same size as the bottom connected to, andextending rearwards from, the bottom margin of said first strip anddisposed above and in parallel relation with the bottom, a second stripof substantially the same height as the first strip connected to, andextending upwards from, the rear margin of the first false bottom andfitting against the inner surface of the upper portion of the back, atop of substantially the same size as the first false bottom connectedto, and extending forwards from the top margin of the second strip anddisposed above and in parallel relation with said first false bottom, athird strip of substantially the same height as the first strip,connected to, and extending downwards from, the front margin of the topand fitting against the inner surface of said first strip, and a secondfalse bottom of substantially the same size as the first false bottomconnected to, and extending rearwards from, the bottom margin of thethird strip and directly overlying said first false bottom, said tophaving a longitudinal series of three-sided slits therein in order toform transverse partitions and having the partitions bent downwards toform egg receiving cells therebetween, said first and second falsebottoms having longitudinal elongated apertures therein disposed midwaybetween the front and back margins thereof and between the partitions,and a longitudinal partition disposed midway between, and in parallelrelation with, the front and back, provided with downwardly facingnotches for accommodating the cross partitions, having the portionsthereof between the notches extending through, and interlocked with, theapertures and resting on the bottom, and embodying upper edge portionscoplanar with the upper edge of the back and serving to support thecover when the latter is in its closed position.

LOUIS SCHWARTZBERG.

